Nut-lock.



M. J. FITZGERALD.

NUT LOOK.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3, 1913.

1,085,030. Patented Jan.20,1914.

UNITED STATES, PATENT in FICE.

MICHAEL JOSEPH FITZGERALD, OF RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOB, OF ONE-TENTH TO CHARLES H. BROWN, OF RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA.

NUT-LOCK.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, MICHAEL JOSEPHFlTZGERALD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in thecounty of Contra Costa and State of California, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Nut-Locks, of which the following is aspeciiication.

This invention relates to a lock nut.

It is the object of this invention to provide a device, by means ofwhich a nut can be effectively locked on a threaded bolt or stud againstaccidental loosening, and which is adapted to be detached from the nutto permit the latter to be readily removed.

Another object is to provide a nut lock which is simple in construction,economical, and by means of which a nut may be securely locked in placeon av threaded bolt without damaging either the nut o-r bolt, and whichwill permit of the nut being removed and replaced whenever desiredwithout destroying the threads.

The invention primarily resides in forming a T-slot on the inside of thenut, forming notches in the screw-threads of the bolt, and mounting aspring member of peculiar construction in the T-slot which is adapted toengage the notches in the threads of the bolt to lock the nut and bolttogether against rotation with relation to each other.

The invention further consists of the parts and the construct-ion andcombination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed,having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is aplan view of a nut and bolt showing the invention as applied. Fig. 2 isa vertical section on the line AA of Fig. 1 partly in elevation. Fig. 3is a plan view of a nut and bolt, showing a modified form of theinvention. Fig. L is a vertical section on the line BB of Fig. 3 partlyin elevation. Fig. 5 is a. perspective view of the catch employed in theform of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 6 is a similar viewof the catch employed in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and.4. Fig. 7 is a detail in perspective of the notch formed in the boltthread. Fig. 8 is a similar view of a modified form.

In the drawings, 2 indicates the threaded portion of a bolt, stud orsimilar article, and 3 represents a nut which is adapted to beSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 3, 1913.

Patented J an. 20, 1914. Serial No. 745,955.

screwed on the threaded end of the bolt 2; the bolt 2 and nut 3 being ofthe common well-known variety.

Formed in the threads of the bolt 2 is a series of notches t, of anysuitable shape, which may have inclined sides in the form of a V, asshown in Fig. 7, or one vertical side, as shown in Fig. 8. The notches4: may be arranged. in any desired manner, being shown in Figs. 1 and 2as formed by cutting grooves lengthwise of the bolt at suitableintervals around its periphery, thus forming a series of alined notchesin the adjacent threads, and are shown in Figs. 3 and 4 as being out atintervals in the threads so as to be disposed in spiral arrangementaround the bolt.

The nut 3 is formed with a slot or groove 5 on its inner face, whichslot extends transversely of the threads in the nut and opens to a slotor channel 6 extending at right angles thereto; the slots 5 and 6forming a single slot in the shape of a T, which, for convenience inmanufacture, extends entirely through the nut. Detachably mounted in theT-shaped slot is a plate spring member of special configuration andwhich varys in its design according to whether the notches 4 arearranged in rows or in spiral arrangement on the bolt 2. \Vhen thenotches 4 are arranged in alinement, as shown in Fig. 2, the springplate is formed as shown in Fig. 5; that is, with a crimped or bentportion 7 having an upwardly extending portion or stem 8 terminating atits upper end in a horizontal projection or tongue 9 and formed with avertical, inwardly protruding member or flange 10 on the stem 8.

In the form shown in Fig. 6, which is employed when the notches 4 arespirally arranged, the tongue 9 is eliminated; the remainder of thespring member being substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 5.

The crimped portion 7 of the spring plate is designed to be introducedinto the slot 6 in the nut 3 so as to extend transversely of the slot 5,with the flange member 10 projecting through the slot 5 and with itsouter end bearing against the threads on the bolt 2. The crimped portion7 of the plate forms a spring which acts to temporarily bind the platein the nut and to normally retain the flange 10 against the threads ofthe bolt under pressure in such a manner that, when the outer edge ofthe flange is positioned over a notch 4, it will spring therein and thushold the nut against turning, except when sufficient rotating force isapplied to the nut to cause the flange to ride over the beveled edges ofthe notches. The tongue 9 is designed to engage the threads of the bolt,as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to retain the plate in position in the nut 3and prevent it from falling out of the slots 5 and 6. here the notches 4are. staggered the flange is positioned between the unnotched threadswhich serve to hold the plate in position. By inserting a suitable toolunder the tongue 9, the stem portion 8 of the spring plate may beretracted so as to withdraw the flange 10 and tongue 9 out of engagementwith the threads of the bolt and permit of the spring plate beingentirely withdrawn, so that the nut may be unscrewed and removed fromthe bolt. The spring plate may be inserted in place in the nut eitherbefore or after the nut is screwed on the bolt and may be removed at anytime, as before described.

By forming the notches 4 with both sides beveled, as shown in Fig. 7,the nut 8 may be turned in either direction by a suitable tool, when thelocking flange 10 is engaged. The flange rides out of the notches whensufficient power is applied to the nut but will not disengage from thenotch by vibration. If the notches 4: are formed with one straight side,as shown in Fig. 8, the nut may be turned in one direction by the use ofa tool while the spring locking member is in place, but will beeffectively locked against turning in the opposite or reverse directionuntil the locking flange 10 is withdrawn from the notch.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a nut lock whichis simple, cheap, efiicient and reliable, and which may be removed andreplaced at will.

A particular advantage of this invent-ion resides in the fact that it ispossible to take up any slack, such as may be occasioned by wear ofmachinery, or extension of bolt, and if there is sufficient jar orvibration the nut will travel on the bolt and lock itself.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is- 1. In a nut locking device, a screwthreaded bolthaving longitudinally disposed exterior grooves, a coacting nut having aT- slot made therein, a flat undulating spring fitting the head 01": theslot, and flanges formed at right angles thereto and project ing throughthe radial portion of the slot to engage the grooves and thread of thebolt.

2. A nut having a radial slot and a transverse connecting slot, athreaded bolt having exterior longitudinal grooves, an elastic springhaving a reversely curved main portion fitting the transverse slot inthe nut, and tongues projecting through the radial portion of the slotand engaging the grooves and threads of the bolt.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

MICHAEL JOSEPH FITZGERALD. lVitnesses:

WV. WV. HEALEY, It. S. BERRY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

